Notes on New Jersey's Government that don't fit the topics of my other blogs

Friday, January 24, 2014

Penns Grove Councilman again cited for suspended driver license

Update: 01/27/14:

Warrant issued for Councilman's arrest.

I recently sought records from the Logan Township Municipal Court that would show the disposition of the summons/complaint against Councilman Washington for driving with a revoked license.

Today, the court informed me that Councilman Washington failed to appear at his court date and that a warrant has been issued for his arrest. See the correspondence here:

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On September 25, 2013, Logan Township (Gloucester County) Police wrote Penns Grove Borough (Salem County) Councilman Carl Washington, Jr. a summons for driving with a suspended license, contrary to N.J.S.A. 39:3-40. A copy of the summons, Docket No. 0809-L-071877, is on-line here. At the same traffic stop, Washington was also cited for improper use of a cell phone, contrary to N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3.

This is not Councilman Washington's first driver license related offense. Available on-line here is a set of exhibits:

Exhibit page 1 is Washington's October 20, 201l statement filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC). It evidences that Washington's address is 40 Madole Place, Penns Grove, New Jersey (the same address listed on the summons).

Exhibit page 2 is summons/complaint no. 1708-PG-079701 issued against Washington charging him with driving with a suspended license (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40) on May 18, 2011. According to the reverse of the summons/complaint, Washington pled "not guilty" but was found guilty at an August 9, 2011 hearing and was fined $1,006 plus $33 costs and received a 30 day additional period of driver license suspension. Importantly, the bottom of the reverse of the summons indicates "10 days" and a related text entry appears regarding "SLAP." On November 4, 2011, I telephone Penns Grove Municipal Court Administrator Sharon O. Bye and she told me that Washington was sentenced to spend ten days in jail but that the judge would allow him to serve his sentence through the Salem County Sheriff's SLAP "Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program" if he was eligible. Ms. Bye also informed me that Washington has appealed the case to Superior Court, Law Division. On January 31, 2012, Washington lost that appeal. Click here for the court's order.

Exhibit page 3 is a record I received in response to my OPRA request to Gloucester County seeking information on whether or not Washington was jailed. The record indicates that a Carl Washington, born on March 15, 1973 (the same date that is on Exhibit page 2), was committed several times between November 12, 1997 and April 23, 2004.